DOWNTON ABBEY claimed the prize for Best Drama at Wednesday evening's National TV Awards in London. The hotly-contested Award for Best Serial Drama went to CORONATION STREET.

Best Serial Drama
CORONATION STREET (ITV)

Best Serial Drama Performance
Alan Halsall - CORONATION STREET(ITV)

Best Newcomer
David Witts - EASTENDERS (BBC)

Best Drama
DOWNTON ABBEY (ITV)

When asked backstage at the National Television Awards whether the Bill Tarmey was looking down on him, Alan Halsall replied:

“I’m sure he is. His wife asked me to wear his watch tonight, so this is definitely for him. Bill gave me 15 years’ worth of advice. He was a second dad on screen. He used to say to me ‘Enough of that bloody acting!’ so he’d be laughing his head off that I’ve won this tonight.”